Our Favorite Moments From CENTRESTAGE SS26, Hong Kong's Biggest Fashion Showcase

There's no place quite as vividly alive (or instantly Instagrammable) as Hong Kong. Shiny skyscrapers tower over centuries-old temples, while neon-lit alleys glow like a Wong Kar-wai postcard. Sensory overload hits at every turn: the dings of double-decker trams (affectionately called "ding dings" by locals), mouthwatering aromas drifting from corner bakeries, and bamboo scaffolding wrapping pastel high-rises like sculptural gowns.

It's no surprise that the city's annual fashion extravaganza, CENTRESTAGE, is equally thrilling. This year's 10th edition, presented by the HKTDC, brought together over 260 brands from 25 countries under one roof at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Beyond the runway, CENTRESTAGE doubles as a giant showroom—brands rolling out their racks, buyers circling and stylists hunting for the best looks for the Spring/Summer 2026 season. 

Beijing-born haute couture superstar Guo Pei—who famously dressed Rihanna for the 2015 Met Gala—kicked off the week with a solo couture showcase at the opening gala. Homegrown talent delivered equally fierce presentations: ANGUS TSUI made aliencore dreams come true; KOWLOON CITY BOY turned the runway into a post-party locker room; and 112 mountainyam unveiled a whimsical, garden-inspired collection. The U.K. also showed out: genderless label KAWAkEY dropped a quirky, colorful, impossibly stylish collection, while Patrick McDowell, who has dressed everyone from Lady Gaga to Sarah Jessica Parker, sent down chic, red-carpet-ready numbers. Plus, Professor Jimmy Choo was in town, hosting a talk and taking a front-row seat as recent graduates of his JCA | London Fashion Academy showcased their looks. 

From voluminous gala gowns to avant-garde "futurewear," CENTRESTAGE proved that Hong Kong's fashion scene is every bit as bold and captivating as its instantly recognizable skyline.

Read on for the standout shows lighting up this season's CENTRESTAGE.

Gala-Ready Glittering Goddesses

China's couture queen Guo Pei debuted "Gilternity: An Everlasting Radiance," inspired by the molten shimmer of flowing gold. The week's only off-site venue, M+ Museum in West Kowloon, transformed into a temple of pure drama, with over thirty jaw-dropping couture looks parading down the runway. Models floated like goddesses, their sculpted gowns and sweeping trains mesmerizing a front row packed with celebrities and local style royalty. Bodices cinched to perfection, massive earrings sparkled, and headpieces towered sky-high—sometimes all in one look. We often found ourselves holding our breath, half in awe, half praying no one would topple under these colossal creations with eternal trains. Volume, shine, theatrics = a collection truly fit for queens.

Garden Vibes and Runway Whimsy

KAWAkEY delivered one of CENTRESTAGE's most playful and surreal shows. The London-based sustainable label, led by Hong Kong-born Ka Wa Key Chow and multidisciplinary artist Jarno Leppänen, presented "The Curious Case of a Caged Sparrow," a trippy, lighthearted collection inspired by Key's grandfather and the sparrow he once kept. Unexpected fabrics, oversized flowers, inventive layering, wide trousers with thigh-scraping slits and gorgeous hand-painted floral prints brought pure joy to the runway. The vibe? Think Harry Styles on his Harry's House promo tour meets Lorde on a matcha run—eccentric and crazily stylish. In other words, KAWAkEY has the key to our hearts. (Yes, we went there.)

Meanwhile, 112 mountainyam threw a garden party gone wild: breezy silhouettes, greenery-filled headpieces and a dizzying Hamptons energy that kept us staring.

Party-Friendly Fits

Models strutted down the runway in effortlessly chic outfits by sustainable British designer Patrick McDowell, inspired by queer British artist Glyn Philpot. One head-turner was a sleeveless black jacket with playful daisy buttons paired with wide-leg trousers—something we can definitely picture Anne Hathaway wearing in the Devil Wears Prada sequel. Bold, puffy, floral skirts radiated full Carrie Bradshaw energy, which makes sense since McDowell designed a custom look for SJP's Carrie in the finale of And Just Like That. (Fun fact: fans can snag that outfit and more on the demi-couture brand's site, where everything is limited edition.)

Prints inspired by Philpot's art ran throughout the collection, elevated with sustainable touches like Sparxell sequins and pigments made entirely from plant-based materials. Our standout? A freesia-colored floor-length shirt dress with hand-applied feathers layered over black high-waisted trousers with a teasing midriff.

The Creepy and the Kooky-Cool

ANGUS TSUI celebrated ten years of his ever-buzzy label with "A Decade of Creating Otherworldly Universes in Fashion" at the Fashion Hong Kong group show, and it was pure cosmic mayhem. Shadowy, hyper-futuristic silhouettes stormed the runway, some looking like they escaped straight from The Fifth Element, others like a Bushwick raver lost in a sci-fi fever dream. Last season's "Giger" collection, inspired by the mind behind Alien, returned in spiky glory, each piece stacked with insane detail. The show channeled goth-y, apocalyptic vibes with a sci-fi twist. Pop star stylists, take note. These looks are made for fearless pop girlies, just ask the posse of Cantopop stars who have already been rocking TSUI's creations.

Then came Self FAB, turning up delightfully unhinged energy with "Hybridized Armour: Cultural Codes Reconstructed." Inspired by a generation navigating fragmented identities, the looks fused military precision, Victorian tailoring (including towering wigs), sporty silhouettes, jerseys, camouflage, and reimagined emblems. Sure, it was a lot. Wearable for a few, entirely captivating for all.

Hot Hong Kong Boy Spring/Summer

You can often predict what to expect from a collection just by observing the front row before the show begins. KOWLOON CITY BOY's was a dead giveaway: Hong Kong's coolest—indie creatives, fashion kids, local influencers—packed the seats, iPhones raised and ready, soaking in every mesmeric moment. The runway resembled a retro locker room after a party, complete with deflated balloons and streamers drooping over benches and lockers, and basketballs scattered across the floor. Kylie Minogue's "Turn It Into Love" blared overhead, creating an upbeat '80s atmosphere as some of the city's hunkiest models confidently strutted through.

Launched in 2021 by Toki Wong, KOWLOON CITY BOY has quickly become one of Hong Kong's hottest labels. As Wong explained, the brand isn't about "city boy style"—it's about reimagining Hong Kong boys and "evoking the spirit of '80s/'90s cinema—unserious yet charismatic, playful yet authentic, always rooted in the everyday." SS26's "CLUB HEART BROKEN" collection reassured us that male midriffs in crop tops are very much alive and thriving. Leather biker jackets clashed with plaid, jerseys were shredded and deconstructed, and tattered, colorful knits added grit and texture. Some moments gave us major early-aughts pop-star vibes—we could totally see 'NSYNC rocking these looks on the cover of Teen People, or Britney in a fuzzy neon-orange teddy bear vest on TRL, low-rise jeans and all. In other words, we've officially joined the I Love KOWLOON CITY BOY club.

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